Koreans' 'indomitable spirit' praised
| • | Special report: 100 Years of Dreams, Accomplishments |
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Korean Americans yesterday celebrated the passage of a century since they began their migration to America, hearing a call to leadership and assurances that their homeland would resolve peacefully a political crisis that has frayed nerves around the world.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
As a marker of the anniversary of the date that the S.S. Gaelic dropped anchor in Honolulu with the first wave of Korean immigrants, a contingent of about 1,000 Korean nationals joined Korean Americans in a packed Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom last night to hear immigrant success stories.
Members of the Traditional Korean Dance Institute performed yesterday at the Korean Centennial banquet in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.
One, the keynote address, came from a one-time street urchin from Seoul who was adopted by an American soldier and became a state senator in Washington.
Paull Shin kept his Korean surname but took that of his adoptive father, Ray Paull, as his first name. Last night, he faced guests at the Korean Centennial banquet with a compact disc that contained his genealogy, and offered to help other Korean Americans research theirs.
"If you have a dream, you can accomplish anything; but you cannot forget the past," said Shin, who left Korea at age 16.
Shin's address capped an evening of music, dance, costumes and food derived from the centuries-old culture of a people trying to excel in a new country. A taped address by Republic of Korea President Kim Dae-jung conveyed thanks to the United States for supporting that nation through difficult economic times, and confidence that Korea is "poised to emerge as a first-class nation."
Earlier yesterday, the centennial festivities were launched at a ceremony in the same ballroom in which South Korean officials gave assurances that peace would prevail in the present political crisis.
The government was represented by Sung Chul Yang, ambassador to the United States; Kwan Yong Park, speaker of the Korean Assembly; and Myung-sook Han, minister of gender equality. Han was appearing in place of the defense minister, who was unable to leave the country because of the tensions with North Korea.
Their translated addresses appeared on large screens fronting the packed Coral Ballroom as they spoke.
"Our government will resolve (the crisis) peacefully, through close consultation and dialogues with the United States and neighboring countries, Japan, China and Russia," Han said.
Park asked Korean Americans within the assembly for "unwavering support and continued concern," and urged them to continue their forebears' tradition of hard work and striving for excellence.
"The status of Korea will become greater if you consolidate your positions within American society," he said.
Gov. Linda Lingle praised the Koreans' story as part of the great American immigration epic.
"It's a story that mirrors the story of all immigrants," Lingle said. "They all came in search of peace, of freedom, of opportunity and, most importantly, a better future for their children. The Korean-American experience is the American experience."
The overwhelming mood was one of cultural pride and what was repeatedly described as the "indomitable spirit" of Korean Americans.
During the morning ceremony, Ronald Moon, chief justice of the Hawai'i Supreme Court, focused his keynote address on the ordeal endured by pioneer immigrants such as his grandparents.
Moon said his father, Duke, followed in their footsteps, adopting the values of faith, courage, hard work and public service that characterized the Korean community in Hawai'i.
"My father used to say that public service is the rent you pay for your occupying space on this earth," he said. "These values were rooted in my parents and grandparents and passed down to me. ... I hope I have been successful in passing them down to my children."
Among the honorees was Donald Kim, who has served as general chairman of the Centennial Committee of Korean Immigrants to the United States.
"We're celebrating on behalf of our parents and grandparents," he said. "And we celebrate for our children and grandchildren."
Shin told those children and grandchildren that his hope is that they deepen their education and "become an economic force in this country."
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
